§ 16. Foreign Congratulations on the successful Performance of the "Work: this Edition of the New Testament the first published in the Southern Hemisphere.

Among the number of kind congratulatory letters I received from many and distinct quarters abroad, on the finishing of the New Testament, I may be allowed to give an extract from a high official one written by the Clerical Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, the Rev. William Jowett,—a good man! his letter is truly sui generis and highly characteristic of the writer.—

"Church Missionary House, London,

"Dear Mr. Colenso,

December 17th, 1838.

* * * * "I desire to turn your thoughts to the peculiarly useful (and therefore honourable) department which you do occupy. The sight of that New Testament in the Native language, which you have been privileged to carry through the Press, is such a sight as fills my heart with indescribable joy. Think now to what great ends it is capable of becoming instrumental. Preachers will preach from it: Families will conduct page 22 family-worship by it: Conversations innumerable will be held upon it: it will help private self-examination: it will help those who conduct examinations of the professing Native Christians: it will be for private meditation and prayer: it is the Standard of Wisdom of every kind: it comes in most seasonably with a flood of light to resist the invading darkness of" (the time): "it will, moreover, help the fixing of the language; and school-books, and many other books, will grow out of it. No doubt the Spirit of God will use this sword!

"Then it may be well to consider, that we are only instrumental in this matter. We did not make the Book; Divine Inspiration gave it. You did not translate it; others did that But you were at hand with the art—hidden for ages—by which this great and simple work, this unmiraculous miracle, was produced.

"There is on every side cause to be thankful and humble, The Lord make you and me to be so, and that habitually! I have often heard persons of the highest talent say, that they would gladly be hewers of wood and drawers of water in this cause. One had better not say too much for one's self,—but I could almost fancy that were I a Christian Nobleman, and had the choosing of a humble but most useful office in the Missionary field, it should be that of a Printer, to print the Holy Scripture and Religious Tracts. Now this office you have: Bless the Lord for it, and serve Him in it!

"I remain, Yours most truly,

"Mr. Colenso."

(signed) "

William Jowett."

From the date of this letter may be well-inferred the length of time it took for a letter, &c., to go Home and to be answered, (as alluded to by me in § 3.) I had sent bound copies of the New Testament by first direct ship in April, 1838.—It was known that those whale-ships always sought for whales on their way Home, and so made long voyages. It will, also, be seen, that Mr. Jowett wrote thus fully and kindly to cheer and encourage me in my work; having known from my daily journal (which we were all bound to keep and forward regularly to the Society,) how I had been situated. I have given a longer extract from his letter than I had intended, to record his Christian hope and belief of the great and manifold benefits to be derived from the printing of the New Testament in the Maori language, (in which he was also joined by all the Members of the Church Missionary Society;) as well as to show his valuable opinion of the Press and its introduction into this Country; he too being an author of several works.

And here, perhaps, I may also mention, the little-known but astonishing fact, that this edition of the New Testament in the language of New Zealand was the first publication of the Sacred Volume entire in the Southern Hemisphere!

—" Sail on, O Ship of Life,—
In spite of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Our hearts, our hopes are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee,—are all with thee!"
—Longfellow: "The Building of the Ship" (slightly altered).